A settlement has been reached between the city, and Maria Alonso and Jim Saylor, former Battle Creek Police Department employees who sued the city in federal court in 2014.
The suit stemmed from Alonso and Saylor’s separation from employment with the BCPD in April of 2014. Five of the six claims in the lawsuit were dismissed in 2015, as well as all individual defendants.
Today’s $161,000 settlement was on the lawsuit’s remaining claim of breach of an employment contract. A trial was set to begin Monday.
“It is in the best interest of the Battle Creek Police Department and the community to move forward amicably,” said Police Chief Jim Blocker.
City officials maintain no liability in the breach of employment contract claim, but believe the settlement is in the best interest of those involved, as well as the entire community.
“We all continue to live and work in the Battle Creek community,” said City Manager Rebecca Fleury. “We want the entire community to be able to move forward.”